The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1887-12-10
A TRIP no EUROPE.
How nostcn Man Got Vacation
t ana q Good Rest.

heard In adown town office OF q
tale which recalls Hawthorie's story Of
man who went out for d walk ono
evening, after saying gocdby to his
wife, and did not return for twenty
years, which he spent In a house Oh the
adjoining street. 1t seems that 4 citi.
zen OF Boston, whose name, IL should
give, wonld, be recognized .at once by
. many Of my readers. found himself
last spring In 9 very worn and nervous
condition, 1t seemed to be absolutely
necessary that lie. should 60 somewhere
where 1t would be impossible for letters
OF telegrams Of business to annoy him.
The family phystotan suggested trip
to Europe, and his wife protesting her
Willingness to stay at hons and look
after the large family OF children, the
me merchant, for such he was, apparently
acqaiesced. lie stipulated that no one
should see him or. and that no letters
should be expected from him, but, In.
stead, he promised to send a .'cablo.
gram" twice a week to his wife. The
fact was that he had u horror of
the sea voyage, and had secretly resol-
we'd to crafty homesick desire OF
revlsiting alone--which he would never
have been allowed to do under ordinary
circumstances the village in northern
New England region where his child
hood was spent. However, he engaged
passage In aWhite Star steamer, ana,
after an affectionate farewell to both
his wife and children, started for New
York. He stayed in that city just long
enough TO make sure that his namo
was was (, on the passenger list OF the steam
ship and to arrange for a series Of half
weekly "cablegrams'' from Liverpool.
London, Paris, Lucerne, etc., to his
wife, and departed for the country.
The trick was certainly q cruel one,
but the mans mental condition was SO
morbid and perverted that 1 thinkhe
must mus be held partly excusable, 4 some
admiration Is aleo excited by the neat
ness with which the plan was carried
out. Prayers were duly offered In an
Episcopal church for ''a person gone to
sea-" his friends noted with satisfac-
tion fthe quick arrival OF the steamer
Inv lItv1l s w a., *; IS IS
sailed |, and the kilograms that his wife
received every few days announcing
his continued Improvement in health
were a great satisfaction to her. In
fact, however, her husband wasrusticat.
Ing under an assumed name at q little
tavern IN his native village. He bought
q horse, rode about the country revIy-
ing old recOlleetions, and breathing iu
rest and strength from the pure noun.
tain air. ," 525
The denouement was, of. course, the
most difficult part. OF tho affair. lie
had intended at first to keep up the
delusiony to the very end, and ostensIb.
ly return from the foreign tour laden
with European presents, purchased in
New York. But as his nerves re.
covered their wonted tone and his
thoughts began to be less engrossed
with himself the instinct OF honesty
reasserted itself, and he determined to
make a full confession. He had kept
Informed by some means OF the where.
abouts and condition OF his wife and
children. and accordingly he was able
to surprise them one day last week by
riding calmly into the seaside village
where they were staying, and dlsmount-
ing, bronzed and healthy, in { he bosom
OF his family. Agood deal of explana-
ton was necessary, and thore was soma
shame OH one side and. some wounded
feelings Oh the other; but upon the
principle that ''all's we'll that ends
well," the affair was amicably settled.